UK travellers warned over fake Turkish visas

ABTA, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Get Safe Online are warning travellers to Turkey to only obtain e-visas from the official Republic of Turkey website.

The warning is being issued after up to a hundred UK holidaymakers purchased fake e-visas which were only discovered on arrival in Turkey.

Travellers were subsequently required to purchase authentic visas at the airport.

Currently travellers to Turkey have the option to purchase a visa on arrival, though at a higher cost than online.

However, this service is due to be phased out which could leave travellers who had purchased a fake visa unable to enter the country.

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Nikki White, ABTA head of destinations and sustainability said: “Fraudulent websites targeting visa applications and other tourism services, such as passport renewals and EHIC cards, are a problem in the industry and we would always recommend going directly to the relevant official government website.

“The problem of fraudulent e-visas to Turkey is particularly concerning as many of these sites look bona fide. If you are unsure, check with your ABTA travel company or visit the FCO’s travel advice online to obtain the official website address.”